Floor-jack



(No Model.)

T. L. WILBER.

FLOOR JACK.

Fhololllhozrzphu, Wishmglu is applied to the joist or other support.

lhvrrnn STATES PATENT tries.

THOMAS I1. \VTLRER, OF SUIO, NFX YORK.

FLOOR-JACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 281,82 dated Januaiy 8,1881.

Application fi ed March 31, 1883.

'50 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Trronns L. WrLnnR, of Scio, in the county ofAllegany and State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Floor-Jacks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device which is designed to be used forpressing or forcing matched lumber into its proper position in layingflooring, ceiling, 8:0.

The object of my invention is to provide an implement, whereby theboards can be firmly forced against each other, so that the tenon of oneboard will be forced into the groove of the adjacent board, and wherebythe boards are held in position while they are being nailed to thejoists or other supports.

My invention consists to that end of the improvements in theconstruction of the device, which will be hereinafter fully described,and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of myimproved device. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof with theactuating-lever in section. Fig. 3 is a detached plan view of thelever-supporting bar. Fig. 4c is a detached view of the clamp, whichFig. 5 is a perspective view of the pressure-bar. Fig. 6 is across-section on an enlarged scale in line 00 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is aperspective View, showing a modified construction of the clamp.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the joist or other suitable support, and B the flooring orceiling secured thereto.

O represents the clamp which is applied tothe joist or support Afor'seeuring the implement thereto. The clamp 0 consists of a U- shapedbar or saddle adapted to be placed astride the joist, and is provided onone side with jaws c, which form a pivot-support, to which the rear endof the supporting-bar D is pivoted. The clamp O is provided on its frontand rear sides with spurs or teeth 0, which are adapted to impingeagainst the sides of the joist or support A when the clamp is pressedbackward or away from the flooring which is being laid. The U-shapedclamp O fits loosely over the joist, so that the pressure (Yo model.)

applied to one side of the clamp will tend to force that side of theclamp to which the pressure is applied backward and the opposite side ofthe clamp forward, and the teeth are arranged on the clamp, so as toresist this movement of the clamp, as represented in Fig. 2. lVhen theclamp is designed to be used on the surface of a floor already laid, itmay be .constructed, as represented in Fig. 7, with a centralpivot-support for the rear end of the bar D, and withdownwardly-projecting teeth 0, adapted to impinge against or enter theflooring and prevent the backward movement of the clamp on the same. Thesupporting-bar D is bent toward the middle of the joist and extendsforwardly along the upper side of the joist, as represented in Figs. 1and 2.

E represents the actuating-lever, which is pivoted with its bifurcatedlower portion, e, to the support D at e.

F represents the pressure-bar,which is pivoted with its rear end at f tothe lower portion of the lever E above the supportingbar D. Thepressure-bar F is provided at its front end with a head, G, which isadapted to bear against the edge of the board which is being laid, andis provided on its face with a groove, 9, into which the tenon of theboard projects, as represented in Figs. 1 and 5. The crosshead G isconstructed 011 its upper side with a central depression, which exposesthe tenon of the board against which the cross head is placed, and whichpermit-s the insertion of a nail into the tenon at that point. Thepressure-bar F is provided along its lower sides with ribs 71', whichare loosely guided in grooves formed in two overlapping lugs, 1 east onthe forward end of the supportingbar D.

7c represents a series of notches or ratchets arranged on the upper sideof the bar D in rear of the lever E, and Z is a detent-pawl, which ispivoted to the lever E, and which rides with its free lower end over theratchets k, and prevents the backward movement of the lever E, therebyholding the lever and the pressure-bar attached thereto in positionafter the board has been placed against the next adjacent board, andwhile the board last ap plied is being nailed to its support. Thepressure-bar F is pivoted to the lever E at a suitable distance abovethe joist or other support to which the matched lumber is being secured,and the pressure of the bar against the boards is consequently appliedin a direction at an angle to the joist or support, whereby the boardsare more firmly pressed against the joist, and whereby boards which havewarped are readily straightened out and forced snugly down upon thejoist or support. Upon lifting the detentZ and swinging the lever Ebackward the pressure-bar F is withdrawn from the board and the clamp Cis at the same time loosened, so that it can be moved on the joist inorder to adjust the implement for laying another board, if necessary.

The implement is easily and firmly attached to the joist or othersupport by the clamp O, the latter increasing its hold on the support asthe pressure of the lever is increased, and the implement is readilyremoved from place to place on the joist as the operation of laying theboards proceeds, thereby rendering the implement very convenient in itsoperation.

The several parts of the implement are readily cast of malleable iron orother suitable metal, and are easily secured together, so that theimplement is produced at comparatively small expense.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with a clamp, G, of aprovided at its front end with guides i, an

actuating-lever, E, pivoted to said supporting-bar between the clamp andthe guides 2 and a pressure'bar, F, pivoted to the actuating-lever andguided in the guides i of the supporting-bar, substantially as setforth.

THOMAS L. \VILBER.

Vitnesses Isaac SMITH, H. E. HARMS.

